Germany: the accidental empire + Financial crisis | The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/world/series/germany-the-accidental-empire+business/financial-crisis
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Germany's birthrate is the lowest in Europe - and falling fasthttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/21/germany-birthrate-low-falling
After generous parental allowances fail to reverse the trend, experts call for a different approach<p>In all the data about Germany, it's the one statistic that bucks the trend. Its economy is strong, its cities are regularly cited as among the best in the world to live in – but Germany is a shrinking country. It has the lowest birthrate, <a href="https://www.destatis.de/EN/PressServices/Press/pr/2012/09/PE12_329_12612.html" title="">just 1.36 children per woman,</a> in Europe, and one of the lowest in the world.</p><p>According to the national statistics office, fewer babies were born in Germany last year than at any time in its history. A total of 663,000 children were born, 15,000 fewer than in 2010 and in stark contrast to 1964 when German births (east and west) peaked at just under 1.4&nbsp;million. The rate for younger women in particular fell last year, though it increased for those from their mid-30s to mid-40s.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/21/germany-birthrate-low-falling">Continue reading...</a>GermanyContraception and family planningEurozone crisisPopulationFamilyFinancial crisisEuropeWorld newsFri, 21 Sep 2012 11:20:40 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/21/germany-birthrate-low-fallingPhotograph: Adam Gault / Alamy/AlamySocial scientists are urging the German government to tackle the falling birthrate by making working and having a family more compatible. Photograph: Adam Gault/AlamyPhotograph: Adam Gault / Alamy/AlamySocial scientists are urging the German government to tackle the falling birthrate by making working and having a family more compatible. Photograph: Adam Gault/AlamyKate Connolly in Berlin2012-09-21T11:20:40ZGermany's Wolfgang Schäuble at 70 – still at heart of efforts to save eurozonehttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/20/wolfgang-schauble-70-save-eurozone
The long-serving finance minister, 'the best chancellor Germany never had', is ready to take on more responsibility<p>Berlin's political elite is gearing up for the social event of the season. Next week in the Deutsches Theater, in the heart of the government quarter, stars of German opera and music will gather with the heavyweights of business and politics for a lavish birthday party, to pay tribute to Wolfgang Schäuble, the politician who has done more to shape contemporary Germany and Europe than anyone else currently in office in the EU.</p><p>Angela Merkel, who thwarted Schäuble's ambitions, turning him into the "best chancellor Germany never had", will deliver the key speech for the wheelchair-using finance minister, who turned 70 on Tuesday. Schäuble's mentor, the former chancellor Helmut Kohl, will not be there, underlining how the closest of political partnerships went sour and is now beyond repair.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/20/wolfgang-schauble-70-save-eurozone">Continue reading...</a>GermanyEuropeWorld newsEuroEuropean UnionEconomicsEurozone crisisEuropean monetary unionBankingEuropean banksFinancial crisisFinancial sectorEuroBusinessThu, 20 Sep 2012 14:07:19 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/20/wolfgang-schauble-70-save-eurozonePhotograph: Dimitri Messinis/APWolfgang Schäuble: frontrunner for the chairmanship of the eurogroup body of 17 governments. Photograph: Dimitri Messinis/APPhotograph: Dimitri Messinis/APWolfgang Schäuble: frontrunner for the chairmanship of the eurogroup body of 17 governments. Photograph: Dimitri Messinis/APIan Traynor, Europe editor2012-09-20T14:07:19ZBerlin's housing bubble and the backlash against hipster tourists | Jochen Hunghttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/18/berlin-backlash-against-hipster-tourists
Skyrocketing housing costs in Berlin can't be blamed on an influx of 'foreigners', but are in fact fuelled by the global financial crisis<p>I recently moved back to Berlin after four years in London, and it seems half of London had the same idea. When I walk down the familiar streets of my old neighbourhood, where the most exotic sight used to be the local kebab shop, I now hear posh kids from the home counties discuss their nightly exploits and see stylish Swedes sipping espressos. It all suddenly feels like Dalston.</p><p>I was lucky enough to be able to move back into my old flat in Neukölln, one of Berlin's poorest districts with high crime rates and crumbling infrastructure, but ridiculously cheap rents. The money I used to pay for my room in north-east London would easily get you a decent two-bedroom flat here. Or, rather, it used to: rents here are suddenly skyrocketing. According to a recent article in Die Zeit, they rose <a href="http://www.zeit.de/2012/08/GS-Immobilien-Neukoelln/komplettansicht" title="">over 23% between 2007 and 2010</a>, the biggest increase over the whole city. Many locals are blaming "the foreigners", the <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/no-entry-for-hipsters--berliners-unhappy-with-tourist-boom-20120917-2618m.html" title="">tourists and bohemians from Britain, Spain or Scandinavia</a>, for this sudden rent hike. Last year, Der Spiegel reported on a <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/neukoelln-nasties-foreigners-feel-accused-in-berlin-gentrification-row-a-750297.html" title="">backlash against the growing international community in the district</a>, spearheaded by one of the local bar-owners whose<a href="http://vimeo.com/16116523" title=""> video manifesto</a> against "the fucking students, artists and layabouts" went viral.</p><p><a href="http://vimeo.com/16116523">Offending the Clientele</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/retsina">Sender FN / Retsina-Film</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com">Vimeo</a>.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/18/berlin-backlash-against-hipster-tourists">Continue reading...</a>GermanyEuropeWorld newsFinancial crisisEconomicsFinancial sectorBusinessTue, 18 Sep 2012 08:44:58 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/18/berlin-backlash-against-hipster-touristsPhotograph: Action Press / Rex FeaturesMurals in Berlin. 'Its reputation as a mecca for alternative culture is very much founded on the oversupply of affordable living space.' Photograph: Action Press / Rex FeaturesPhotograph: Action Press / Rex FeaturesMurals in Berlin. 'Its reputation as a mecca for alternative culture is very much founded on the oversupply of affordable living space.' Photograph: Action Press / Rex FeaturesJochen Hung2012-09-18T08:44:58ZAngela Merkel's austerity postergirl, the thrifty Swabian housewifehttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/17/angela-merkel-austerity-swabian-housewives
Frugal housekeeping and balanced budgeting stems from an area with a history of poverty and a religious avoidance of worldly amusements<p>In the sleepy, picturesque towns and villages of south-west Germany, the paragons of thrift are doing what they do best. They shop frugally, use credit cards rarely and save up to a third of a property's value before applying for a mortgage.</p><p>The <em>schwäbische Hausfrau</em> – southern Germany's thrifty Swabian housewife – is frequently invoked by Angela Merkel. The German chancellor argues that Europe has been living beyond its means and can learn from these women's frugal housekeeping and balanced budgeting.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/17/angela-merkel-austerity-swabian-housewives">Continue reading...</a>GermanyEuropeWorld newsEuropean UnionEurozone crisisEuropean monetary unionEuropean banksFinancial crisisEuroMon, 17 Sep 2012 11:06:41 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/17/angela-merkel-austerity-swabian-housewivesPhotograph: Frederick Florin/AFPWaltraud Maier and Heide Sickinger enjoy their Swabian housewife roles in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart – and would never buy on credit. Photograph: Frederick Florin/AFPPhotograph: Frederick Florin/AFPWaltraud Maier and Heide Sickinger enjoy their Swabian housewife roles in Gerlingen, near Stuttgart – and would never buy on credit. Photograph: Frederick Florin/AFPJulia Kollewe in Gerlingen2012-09-17T11:06:41ZGermany's savers feel resentment and guilt over pressure to end euro crisishttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/16/germany-resentment-guilt-savers-euro-crisis
Germany finds itself wielding unprecedented influence in the postwar era. Launching a week-long series on the accidental empire at a key point in Europe's history, we assess why the country appears so reluctant to save the continent<p>Uwe Albrecht has what he calls a wonderful problem. In his office in Leipzig's fortress-like town hall, the deputy mayor says the city's population has grown so much in the past decade that he is having to build more kindergartens and schools.</p><p>"Ten years ago we were talking about closing schools," he said.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/16/germany-resentment-guilt-savers-euro-crisis">Continue reading...</a>GermanyEuropeWorld newsEurozone crisisEuropean UnionEuropean monetary unionEconomicsBankingEuropean banksFinancial crisisFinancial sectorEuroBusinessSun, 16 Sep 2012 16:58:00 GMThttp://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/sep/16/germany-resentment-guilt-savers-euro-crisisPhotograph: Bettmann/CORBISBusinessmen carry gold to the bank in Berlin during inflation in 1923. Many Germans fear a return of hyperinflation if the central bank printed money to bail out eurozone countries. Photograph: Bettmann/CorbisPhotograph: Bettmann/CORBISBusinessmen carry gold to the bank in Berlin during inflation in 1923. Many Germans fear a return of hyperinflation if the central bank printed money to bail out eurozone countries. Photograph: Bettmann/CorbisKate Connolly in Berlin, Ian Traynor in Brussels and Siobhan Dowling in Leipzig2012-09-16T16:58:00Z